Sexier Than A Squirrel: Dog Training That Gets Real Life Results

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, we’re continuing our series of episodes exploring what concept training actually is and how it shows up in real life with your dog. We’re taking the concepts you hear us talk about all the time, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your everyday training. This time, Karen and Alice are taking the reins to explore Arousal Up, Arousal Down - a skill we often refer to as a Dimmer Switch.
Does your dog go from zero to 100 at the slightest excitement? A knock at the door, a visitor arriving or another dog appearing on a walk can be enough to send some dogs into overdrive. And once they're up there, getting back to calm can be a real challenge! Listen in as Alice and Karen chat about how we can help our dogs regulate their energy and respond more appropriately to whatever life throws their way.
We'll explore why some dogs seem to have just two settings – completely chilled or absolutely bouncing off the walls – and how games-based training can help them discover all those useful energy levels in between.
You'll discover how simple changes to games you're already playing can make a big difference. From speeding up and slowing down games like Orientation Game to using Boundary Games and gentle scent-based activities, Alice and Karen share practical ways to help your dog learn to adjust their energy gradually.
And the best part? You can practise this concept during everyday activities, including your usual walks! Small changes in pace can help your dog learn to move smoothly between different energy levels, without needing a whole new training routine.
We'll also explore why this skill matters so much in real life. When dogs become overwhelmed by excitement or worry, they can struggle to think clearly and make good choices. Building a better Dimmer Switch can help with everything from calmer greetings and visitors to more successful interactions with other dogs.
Of course, sometimes high energy is exactly what's needed! The skill we're building is your dog's ability to match their energy to the moment, dial it up when appropriate and bring it back down again.
Ready to help your dog find their Dimmer Switch? Inside Games Club, you'll find hundreds of games to help build this skill, along with dedicated Arousal Up, Arousal Down training resources.
Grab the £1 Games Club trial and get playing!
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
Does your dog growl when you approach their food? Guard their favourite chew, their bed or even something they've picked up that they really shouldn't have? Resource guarding can be incredibly challenging to live with, particularly when you're worried about how your dog might react if you need to take something away.
This week, Lauren is joined by Amber to talk about the realities of living with a resource guarding dog, sharing the story of Amber's Hungarian Vizsla, Sergei, and the training and management strategies that have made such a difference to their everyday lives.
When Amber first took Sergei on as a rescue, she had no idea just how challenging his behaviour would become. From guarding his crate and high-value chews to lunging and biting when he felt threatened, Sergei's resource guarding created some genuinely difficult situations. But with time, understanding and a lot of thoughtful management, life with Sergei looks very different today.
Lauren and Amber explore why management is such an important part of living with resource guarding, and how preventing difficult situations can be far more effective than waiting for something to go wrong. You'll hear how Amber manages food, chews and shared spaces in her multi-dog household, why she focuses on moving Sergei away from an object rather than trying to take it from him, and how giving him time to fully disengage helps avoid unnecessary conflict.
They also discuss the training that's helped Sergei develop better skills around letting go and moving away from things he finds valuable. From disengagement games and reward placement to building confidence with Kongs and other enrichment activities, you'll discover why it's so important to teach the skills your dog needs before you find yourself needing them in a difficult situation.
And what about the rest of the household? Lauren and Amber talk honestly about managing resource guarding around family members, visitors and other dogs, including why sometimes changing your routines and setting clear boundaries is the best way to keep everyone safe and comfortable.
There's also valuable advice for anyone considering rescuing or rehoming a dog, particularly around asking the right questions, understanding the dog's current challenges and recognising that some behaviours may only emerge once they've had time to settle into their new home.
Resource guarding isn't always something that simply disappears, but that doesn't mean life can't get better. Sergei's story is a brilliant example of how understanding your dog, building the right skills and having a solid management plan can make everyday life safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Want to build your dog's disengagement skills and discover games that can help with resource guarding? Inside Games Club, you'll find practical training games and support to help you work on the skills your dog needs.
Check out the £1 Games Club trial here:
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
Dark evenings, blustery weather, strange shadows and Halloween decorations popping up everywhere. Spooky season brings plenty of changes to our dogs' everyday environments, and even the most confident dogs can find themselves a little more worried or reactive than usual.
This week, Lauren is joined by Michelle to explore how we can use food, feeding strategies and enrichment to support our dogs' calmness through spooky season.
They start by looking at why autumn can be such a challenging time for dogs. With unfamiliar sights and sounds, changing routines and a whole host of little stresses adding up, it's easy for a dog's stress bucket to become fuller than we realise. And when that happens, even something that wouldn't normally bother them can suddenly trigger barking or an anxious response.
So how can we help? Lauren and Michelle share some of their favourite ways to feed for calmness, including why how you deliver your dog's food can be just as important as what you feed.
From batch-cooking pumpkin and squash for frozen lick mats to creating enrichment bowls with seasonal ingredients like sweet potato, apple and banana, you'll discover plenty of simple ideas that don't require hours of preparation. They also discuss supporting your dog's wellbeing through nutrition, gut health and supplements, including practical ways to incorporate these into meals for fussier eaters.
But feeding for calmness goes well beyond what's in the bowl!
You'll hear how recycling boxes, scatter feeding, stuffed chews and scent games can encourage sniffing, licking, chewing and problem-solving, giving your dog something positive to focus on when the world outside feels a little overwhelming.
Lauren and Michelle also explore the importance of recognising stress stacking early, preventing the rehearsal of unwanted behaviours and making thoughtful choices about your dog's daily activities. Sometimes that means swapping a busy evening walk for a relaxed enrichment session at home, giving your dog the opportunity to rest, reset and enjoy something they love.
Spooky season doesn't have to mean weeks of worry for your dog. With a little preparation, some creative feeding strategies and an understanding of what your dog needs, you can help them navigate the changing season with greater confidence and calmness.
🐾 Want to give your dog more opportunities to practise calmness? Discover a whole library of games, enrichment ideas and confidence-building activities inside Games Club.
Check out the £1 Games Club trial here:
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
Trick-or-treaters knocking at the door. Strange noises outside. Pumpkins, skeletons and floating ghosts appearing on your usual walking route. Halloween can be a lot for our dogs to take in, especially if they're already sensitive to noises, novelty or unexpected visitors.
This week, Lauren is joined by Karen to talk about preparing your dog for spooky season, with plenty of real-life examples from Karen's own Naughty But Nice cockapoo, Rupert.
Rupert can go from calm to barking, bouncing and completely overwhelmed in seconds when someone comes to the door. So what do you do when your dog is already reacting and asking them to calm down simply isn't going to work?
Lauren and Karen explore practical ways to manage those tricky situations, from using a simple food scatter to help redirect your dog's attention, to creating space and giving them somewhere safe to settle. They also share why prevention can be your best friend, particularly when Halloween means repeated knocks at the door.
And it's not just the doorbell! With darker evenings, unfamiliar decorations and unexpected sights and sounds appearing everywhere, there are plenty of opportunities for our dogs to find the world a little more worrying than usual.
You'll hear how simple games like Noise Box, DMT and Magic Cave can help build confidence around novelty and noise, how to introduce unusual objects at home without overwhelming your dog, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is adjust your plans and routines to suit the dog in front of you.
There's also a little preparation advice for Bonfire Night, which is just around the corner, including ways to make your home more comfortable for dogs who struggle with fireworks.
The good news? There's plenty you can do to help your dog feel more prepared for whatever spooky season brings!
🎃 Want to keep trick-or-treaters from knocking on your door? Grab our free, dog-friendly Halloween door sign here:
https://absolutedogs.me/halloweensign
👻 Looking for games to help your dog grow in confidence? Our October Games Club challenge is packed with spooky-themed training games designed to build optimism, confidence and resilience.
Check out the £1 Games Club trial here:
https://absolutedogs.me/7daytrial
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
Living with a reactive or Naughty But Nice dog can be challenging. And sometimes, the hardest part isn't the barking, lunging or difficult walks. It's how those experiences leave you feeling.
Vulnerable. Isolated. Embarrassed. Judged.
This week, we're bringing you something a little different: a conversation from our two-day Live and Unleashed event, where Michelle, Sam and Karen get together to talk about building confidence as the owner of a Naughty But Nice dog.
They know first-hand how difficult it can be when the dog you love finds the world challenging, when other people don't understand, or when you're constantly worrying about what might be waiting around the next corner.
But how do you start rebuilding your confidence when it's taken a knock?
Together, they explore why reconnecting with the things you love about your dog is such an important starting point, and how you can begin to replace worry and uncertainty with preparation, practical skills and a plan.
From taking a break from stressful walks and finding safer places to train, to scoring environments according to difficulty, rehearsing your responses and building a toolkit of games you can rely on, there are plenty of practical ideas you can put into action with your own dog.
You'll also hear why it's important to give yourself an easy win on difficult days, how learning alongside experienced trainers and carefully selected dogs can grow your handling skills, and why having the right support can make such a difference.
Because your confidence matters too. And the more prepared and capable you feel, the better equipped you'll be to help your dog navigate the world.
If you'd love some personalised help with your own Naughty But Nice dog, there are ways we can support you:
🐾 1-2-1 Coaching Calls – Get tailored advice, practical strategies and a plan for the challenges you're facing with your dog.
https://absolute-dogs.com/products/pdt-connect 
🐾 Devon Dogs Training Holidays – Join us in Devon for hands-on training, expert coaching and the opportunity to build your skills and confidence in a supportive environment.
https://www.devondogs.co.uk/ 
And if you'd like to hear Ingrid's story, along with more inspiring experiences shared by our Naughty But Nice owners during Live and Unleashed, you'll find them on our AbsoluteDogs YouTube channel.
Naughty But Nice stories
Support the show
If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27!

Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/gamesclub

Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog -  Pro Dog Trainer Club!
https://absolutedogs.me/prodogtrainerclub 

And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!